City Cast Austin

We all know that March means South by Southwest, or SXSW, in Austin. But there’s so much more than that happening around town. So, we’re focusing on all things un-SXSW for our March monthly guide. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by her pal, multi-hypenate Aira Juliet, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about how to eat, work, and have fun away from the madness downtown. Plus, we’ve got...

We made it through the winter without any major power outages in Austin. So is it time you restore your faith in the Texas power grid? Frustratingly, it’s still complicated. The main culprit back in the 2021 blackout was natural gas-related power, and Texas is now making more renewable energy than any other state. So why are we investing more and more into natural gas? Host Nikki DaVaughn digs int...

Five years ago, a recent college grad moved to Austin, sight unseen, without knowing anyone here. It was peak pandemic time, and he had an idea for an app — he just needed some funding. After some ups and downs, Destin Bell got just that, and even wound up with a Shark Tank deal for an app that gamifies running, walking and cycling. Bell talks to host Nikki DaVaughn about why running is so popular...

In his nine months on the job, Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax has already steered the city through a few choppy waves: Passing Austin’s biggest budget ever, changing the criteria for Austin’s cold weather shelters to open, and, recently, creating the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. He talks to host Nikki DaVaughn at Austin City Hall about his plans for the city’s future, incl...

There’s a new one-stop-shop for all things arts-related at the City of Austin this week, after Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced the creation of a new Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment that will focus on “sustaining and growing Austin’s creative sector.” On today’s Friday news roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn, KUT reporter Lauren McGaughy, and executive producer Eva Ruth Mora...

You may have heard that Saturday Night Life is celebrating 50 years on the air — but did you know that only a handful of cast members have been Texans? We’re revisiting host Nikki DaVaughn’s interview with Devon Walker, a native of Pflugerville who’s been on SNL for three seasons, about the characters he likes playing the most, Austin’s comedy scene, and what he misses about Central Texas.  Learn...

What is it like being a “funeral director of stuff”? In this episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Carl McQueary, owner of Estate Services of Austin, to talk about his work. After 31 years, McQueary has seen it all — he’s sold skulls, settled family disputes, and handled the estates of some of Austin’s most famous residents. We touch on how he stays motivated in such a dark line of work, how h...

Looking for a place to dine where you won’t need a reservation? A new-to-you bar that just might be your next fave? Or how about an essential Austin activity that won’t cost a fortune? Host Nikki DaVaughn has got you covered, with the help of Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec, in today’s episode, all about our favorite hidden gems in Austin. We ge...

While host Nikki DaVaughn might disagree, according to Dr. Allen Lieberman of Austin Family Allergy & Asthma, it’s been a mild cedar season. But, more pollen is soon headed our way, and it’s time you rethink your allergy remedy regiment. Plus, does exposing children to pollen early on help their immune system, like giving babies peanut butter snacks can reduce peanut allergies? Listen in to find o...

It’s Austin Marathon weekend, and there are more runners than ever before hitting our streets Sunday morning. Host Nikki DaVaughn, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec are talking about the big event, and Austin’s official bid for a WNBA team, headed by local basketball legend Fran Harris, on this week’s Friday News Roundup. Plus, in case you’re not...

How did a holiday that we all loved celebrating as children become the most commercialized and overdone explosion of pinks and reds and bows and hearts ever? For host Nikki DaVaughn, Valentine’s Day used to be exciting and sweet, but these days, it just seems like a big excuse to spend money. Today’s guest, local writer Rose McMackin, chats with Nikki on which gifts you should absolutely avoid — a...

Austin Community College has been around for 51 years, and serves a hugely important role in the higher education community. From identifying needs in the local workforce and creating programs to train students who then fill those gaps, to helping students overcome barriers that keep them from attaining higher education, ACC is doing a ton these days. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Chancellor Ru...

Now that the Texas Senate has passed this session’s voucher bill, it’s up to the Texas House to see it through. The proposal, a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, would give Texas families $10,000 per child to use towards private school tuition and other fees. Democrats have pledged to fight the effort to use public tax dollars to subsidize private school tuition, but what power do they actually have?...

The half-dozen blocks of Sixth Street downtown where Austinites celebrate their 21st birthdays and so much more sit within a historic district — but even so, changes are afoot. After 35 years, Austin officials are testing out reopening the street to vehicular traffic on the weekends, and have widened sidewalks and added barricades to protect pedestrians. And, while it might seem sudden, these chan...

This week, the Texas Senate passed a bill to give $10,000 vouchers to families to use at private schools, one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s top priorities. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by multidisciplinary storyteller Mase Kerwick and executive producer to talk about the bill’s challenges now in the Texas House, where it failed to progress during the last legislative sessi...

Lunar New Year is celebrated in Austin and around the world through Feb. 12, and during this time, certain Chinese dishes take on special meanings: Dumplings and fish signify wealth, noodles signify happiness and longevity, and oranges and tangerines are for good luck and fortune, to name a few. So which Austin eateries serve up the best dumplings and dim sum to eat this Lunar New Year? And how do...

This Black History Month, we challenge you to learn about Austin’s deep and complicated racial history. From politicians to businesspeople, musicians, artists, chefs, and more, African-American Austinites have left their imprint on this city in many different ways, and the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center is full of exhibits and programming to help you learn. Host Nik...

Austin viral TikTokker Lissett Bohannon joined the platform in late 2019 — and quickly found her way into her high school counseling students’ algorithms, spending the next few months providing vital information to juniors and seniors about college. Now, the platform doubles her income, and also serves as her default search tool. Host Nikki DaVaughn speaks to Bohannon about what she predicts will...

It’s almost time for the Academy Awards, and thus, it’s time for you to catch up on some movies. Austin Chronicle editor and film critic Kimberley Jones joins producer Rishi Bajekal to talk about the best movies of 2024, the flicks she’s got her eyes on this year, and her favorite theaters in town. Learn more about the sponsor of this February 3rd episode: Tecovas Visit Amarillo Want some more Aus...

This week, immigration agents detained dozens of people in Austin, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state officers to partner with federal officers in carrying out President Donald Trump’s efforts in deporting people. For today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec in discussing all the lat...

Looking for ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without going into debt? Don’t know how to celebrate Black History Month and Lunar New Year in Austin? We’ve got you covered with City Cast Austin’s February Monthly Guide. Think of it as your to-do list, for fun stuff, infused with helpful tips to make your month even more enjoyable (like how to get in and out of the Moody Center). It’s time to fall b...

When you think of Austin’s most iconic people, who comes to mind? That’s the question we asked ourselves last year as we tried to build Austin’s version of Mount Rushmore – let’s call it Mount Waterloo since that’s what Austin was originally called. Host Nikki DaVaughn, our Hey Austin editor Kelsey Bradshaw and former producer Elissa Rozentuller put our heads together to choose just a handful of t...

Bastrop-based Boring Company, owned by Elon Musk, has tunneled 40 feet below Las Vegas, causing all kinds of problems in the name of creating a new mode of transportation. Host Nikki DaVaughn interviews Dayvid Figler, co-host of City Cast Las Vegas, who recently co-reported a story exposing the tunnel’s troubles in Nevada. There, Boring Company privately built the so-called Tesla Tunnel, avoiding...

Austin’s City Council is set to hit the ground running in its first meeting of the year this week, and one issue directly in its bullseye: Regulating short-term rentals. With three new members on the dais and Mayor Kirk Watson returning for his final term, City Council members will also have to make massive decisions, like what to do about the cap-and-stitch proposals over Interstate 35; how to fu...

Did you catch all of the Austinites who went to President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday? The City Cast Austin crew did, and host Nikki DaVaughn dishes about who-said-or-did-what with Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec on today’s Friday News Roundup. Plus, we get into why Austin rents keep dropping, bucking a national trend; say goodbye to w...